The Vulture King scored a number of early victories against the Marcher lords, and his support swelled to more than thirty thousand men, most of them smallfolk. With such a large host, the Vulture King decided to divide his forces in two, sending one half to besiege Stonehelm under the command of Lord Walter Wyl while marching ahead the other half against Nightsong and Horn Hill. Unable to capture Nightsong, the Vulture King halted his siege and began to march west.[1]

Vulture Hunt

The Vulture King's decision to split his army allowed the opposing forces to easily defeat him. Lord Orys Baratheon of Storm's End defeated the Dornish host led by Lord Walter Wyl during a battle at House Swann's castle of Stonehelm. Walter Wyl was captured alive, and Lord Orys, to avenge the loss of his own swordhand at the hand of Walter's father, the Wyl of Wyl, had Walter's hands and feet hacked off as "usery".[1][3]

Lady Ellyn Caron and Lord Harmon Dondarrion, the Lord of Blackhaven who had been mutilated by the Vulture King earlier on in his campaign, cut off his retreat, while Lord Samwell Tarly appeared in his line of march. The Vulture King's lines shattered and his host fled. The hunt for these fleeing rebels became known as "the Vulture Hunt".[1][2] The Vulture King himself was captured alive and tied naked between two posts, where he was left to die. He eventually died of thirst and exposure, although the singers like to claim the rebel king was torn to pieces by the vultures from whom he had taken his name.[1][2]